Bragantia vol.12 no.10-12 Campinas Dec. 1952

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0006-87051952000400010

Potato tubere heavily infested by root-knot nematodes were fumigated in a vacuum chamber of 28.637 cubic meters capacity. Approximately 150 cc of methyl bromide were introduced into the chamber which remained closed for about 15 hours. Other similar tubers were left untreated. After the treatment, 50 tubers from the fumigated and 50 tubers from the untreated lot were planted in steam-sterilized soil. Microscopic examination of the tubers submitted to fumigation indicated that adult females and parasitic larvae were not harmed. Eggs were not found. The examination of the production obtained from the tubers planted in sterilized soil proved the inefficacy of the treatment. There were, in both the cases, some production in which the percentage of injured tubers was of 100%. This test indicates that methyl bromide fumigation is not effective as a method for treating potato tubers infested with root-knot nematodes.